Well-drilling apparatus



July 1927' w. SHELDON WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 4.- 1926 m m M Z J July 1927' w. SHELDON WELL DRILLING APPARATUSFiled March 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR Patented July 5, 1927.,

UNITED STATES WALDO SHELDON, OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 4, 1926. Serial No. 92,126.

The present invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, towell drilling apparatus of the type such as disclosed in my co-pendingapplication, Serial Number 6,535,

wherein the feed of the drill is governed by power mechanism which isoperative independently of the rotary action of the table.

Special objects of the invention are to provide practical and efficientmeans for gripping the drill pipe and for imparting the rotation of thetable thereto; to pro- 'vide such gripping means in a relatively simplestructure and in such form that it may be quickly and easily set up'andalso be readily releasable; to unify the grip and the clamp means bywhich the same is held so that there is but one set of parts to behandled and to provide simple and efficient means for automaticallybreaking the hold on the pipe when the clamping means for the grip isreleased.

Other objects and the various novel features of construction,combination and relation of parts by which all are attained will beclear from the following specification which includes the accompanyingdrawings illustrating different practical embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is'a vertical sectional view of a form of the invention inwhich the grip and the overstanding clamp are connected integrally andare shown mounted in a power actuated drive sleeve slidingly keyed inthe rotary table. This view is taken as on line 1-1 of Figure 4.

Figure 2 is a detached view of another form of grip made in segmentsloosely connected with the overstanding clamp bar.

Figure 3 is a partial plan View of ,the .same.

Figure 4 is a top plan view .of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of one of theunitary grip and clamp barsections.

In Figure 1 a portion of the rotary table is indicated at 7, the samebeing shown as having a cylindrical passage 8 therethrough for the drivesleeve 9, which latter is slidingly held in said passage by keys 10 fastin the table and engaging keyways 11 in the sleeve. In this fashion thedrive sleeve is caused to rotate with the table but is free to be raisedand lowered by the power mechanism.

Only part of the power mechanism is The gripping means for holding andimparting the rotation of the table to the drill pipe comprises inFigures 1, 4 and 5, a collet structure made up of two substantiallysen'n-cn-cular collet sections 16, 17., having serrated or toothed innersurfaces 18 for gripping the pipe 19 and downwardly tapered outersurfaces 20 seating in a conical socket 21 in a bushing 22 fixed in anadapter 23 which is secured as by bolts 24 fast in the head of the drivesleeve.

The pipe gripping collet sections 16,17

are forced down into the socket provided therefor and hence into holdingengagement with the pipe by overstanding clamp means consisting of thebars or plates 25, 26 acted upon by the bolts 27, 28. An important novelfeature of the present invention is that the drive grip and the clampfor the same are combined asa unitary structure. In the first form ofthe invention this is effected by connecting the clamp and colletsections integrally by means of a unitary neck portion 29.

The connection between the grip and clamp need not, however, be anintegral or solid connection. Thus, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, thegrip may have a loose connection with the clamp. In the structureillustrated the grip is made up of six arcuate sections, three of whichare shown 111 Figure 2 at 30, 31, 32, connected to one of the clampplates 33 by having angular head portions 34 engaged loosely incorrespondlngly shaped but larger seats 35 provided in the under side ofthe plate, being held therein by the bolts 36. These bolts are shown ashaving their heads receivedin cavities 37in the top of the plate and ashaving their shanks extending loosely down through openings 38 into theheads 34,

the under sides of the bolt heads being 'rounded at 39 to enable thebolts to rock freely and slide one way or another to permit the segmentsto accommodate themselves individually to a proper seat in the socketand a proper gripping engagement with the pipe.

In both forms of the invention illustrated, therefore, each half of thedrive grip, whether it be solid or segmented, is carried by anoverstanding clamp bar and so may be handled and manipulated as aunitary part of the clamp bar. In the integral form, the grip sectionsmay be slotted as indicated at 40 to provide independently yieldablesegments (see Figure 5) but somewhat greater freedom of self-adjustmentis allowed for in a structure such as shown in Figure 2 where the gripsegments are formed independently and are loosely connected with theclamp bar.

The form of the holding serrations or teeth may vary to suit differentconditions, but it has been found that the making of the teeth on thelines of coarsely pitched screw threads such as indicated at 41in Figure1 is highly advantageous because in the event of any slippage on thepipe, the tendency of these inclined teeth is to screw themselves downover the pipe and hence force the grip deeper into its socket.

To enable the clamp bolts to act on both clamp plates simultaneously,the ends of such plates are brought together in overlapping relationbeneath the heads of the b0 ts by providing in the present instance,overlapping portions 42, 43 at the opposite ends of the two plates, saidoverlapping portions having the reversely facing transverse open slots44, 45 respectively to engage over the shanks of the bolts from oppositesides. This structure enables the clamp bars with the attached gripsections being engaged laterally from opposite sides about the pipe andas the grip members drop into the socket, the slotted ends of the clampbars naturally fall into overlapped relation engaged beneath the headsof the clamp bolts. Because of such overlapped relation, the settin upof these bolts automatically seats botli grip sections so that the gripis interlocked with the pipe by simply tightening the two bolts.Conversely, the loosening of only these two bolts serves to release thegrip from the drill pipe.

Special provision is made in the present disclosure for automaticallylifting the clamp and grip structure by the simple operation ofunscrewing the clamp bolt. For this purpose these bolts are shown ashaving annular shoulders 46, Figure 1, spaced clear of the table top ordrive sleeve and also clear of the lower clamp plate. When the bolts arebacked up it will be seen that these shoulders 46 will pick up the lowerclamp plate at 47 and thereby lift the plates with their attached drivegrips. This lifting action auto matically releases the grips from theirholding engagement with the drill pipe, the screw bolts providing asimple and positive means by which this result can be quickly and easilyeffected.

An additional releasing effect is attained in the structure disclosed inFigure 1 by locating separating studs 48 between the clamp bars, saidstuds having downwardly faced beveled heads 49 positioned to engagecorrespondingly beveled inclines 50, 51 on the opposing edges of the twoclamp bars. It will be seen that the lifting movement of the clamp barswill bring the opposing inclines 50, 51 into engagement with the bevcledheads of the studs 48 and that these will thereu on operate as wedges topositively force tie clamp bars and grips apart. The combined effect ofthe clamp bolts and separating wedges, when the bolts are turnedupwardly, is thus both to lift and to positively open up the clamp andgrip mechanism.

Therelease of the grips from the drill pipe is thus accomplished simplyand positively with but slight exertion and in quick order. The clampbolts are shown made quite heavy so as to be fully capable of carryingthe rotation of the table to the drill pipe driving grips.

What is claimed is:

1. In well drilling apparatus, the co1nbi nation with a rotary table anda tapered socket partaking of the rotary movement of the table, of asectional clamp overstanding said socket and comprising se arable clampplates independently engagealile about the sides of the drill pipeextending down through the table, drill pipe gripping segments dependentfrom the sections of said overstanding clamp, said clamp sections havinga bearing on thedieads of said segments and means for forcing thesections of the clamps downwardly with respect to the table to therebyforce the pipe gripping segments downwardly in the socket and intogripping engagement with the drill pipe.

2. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a.sectional grip forrotating the drill pipe seating in said socket and having a grippingsurface for engagement with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotationof the table to the drill pipe, an overstanding sectional clamp forforcing the grip down in the socket, the sections of said clamp beingconnected with the sections of said grip for effecting a lifting of thegrip upon movement of the clamp in the reverse direction, said sectionalclamp consisting of substantially flat complemental plates closelyoverstanding the socket and having portions interlocking in overlappedrelation and short screw bolts engaging said overlapped portions foradjustably securing the clamp.

3. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a sectional grip forrotating the drill pipe seating in said socket and having a grippingsurface for engagement with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotationof the table to the drill pipe, an overstan-ding sectional clamp forforcing the grip down in the socket, said clamp being connected with thegrip for effecting a lifting of the grip upon movement of the clamp inthe reverse direction, means associated with the clamp for lifting thesame to free the grip from holding engagement with the drill pipe andrelatively stationary wedge bolts interposed between the sections of theclamp for automatically separating the same in the lifting movement.

4. In ten drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a' tapered socket,artaking of the rotary movement of the table, a grip for rotating thedrill pipe seating insaid socket and having a gripping surface forengagement with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotation of the tableto the drill pipe, an overstanding clamp for forcing the grip down inthe socket, said clamp being connected with the grip for effecting alifting of the grip upon movement of the clamp in the reverse direction,means associated with the clamp for lifting the same to free the gripfrom holding engagement with the drill pipe and means for automaticallyopening the grip in the course of such lifting movement.

5. In 'well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a grip for rotatingthedrill pipe seating in said socket and having a gripping surfaceforengagemcnt with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotation of thetable to the drill pipe, an overstanding clamp for forcing the grip downin the socket, said clamp being connected with the grip for effecting alifting of the grip upon movement of the clamp in the reverse direction,means for lifting the grip in its socket and means for automaticallyopening the grip in the {course of such lifting movement.

(3. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketartaking of the rotary movement of the ta le, a grip for rotat+ ing thedrill pipe seating in said socket and having a gripping surface forengagement with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotation of the tableto the drill pipe and an overstanding clamp for forcing the grip down inthe socket, said clamp being connected with the. grip for effecting alifting of the grip upon movement of the clamp inv the reversedirection, said clamp being of sectional separable construction and thegrip consisting of complemeutal sections supported and carried by theseparable sections of the clamp.

7. In Well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a grip for rotating thedrill pip-e seating in said socket and having a, gripping surface forengagement with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotation of the tableto the drill pipe, an overstanding clamp for forcing the grip down inthe socket, said clamp being connected with the grip for effecting alifting of the grip upon movement of the clamp in the reverse direction,said clamp being of sectional separable construction and the, gripconsisting of complemental sections supported and carried by theseparable sections of the clamp and screw means for lifting the sectionsof the clamp.

8. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a gripfor rotating thedrill pipe seating in said socket and having a gripping surface forengage- .ment with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotation of thetable to the drill pipe, an overstanding clamp for forcing the grip.down in the socket, said clamp being connected with the grip foreffecting a lifting of'the grip upon movement of the clamp in thereverse direction, said clamp being of sectional separable constructionand the grip consisting of complemental sections supported and carriedby the separable sections of the clamp, screw means for lifting thesections of the clamp and means for wedging the clamp sections apartduring such lifting action.

9. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a grip for rotating thedrill pipe seating in said socket and having a gripping surface forengagement with the pipe and adapted to impart the rotation of the tableto the drill pip e,

an overstanding clamp for forcing the grip down in the socket, saidclamp being connected with the grip for effecting a lifting of the gripupon movement of the clamp in the reverse direction, said clamp being ofsectional separable construction and the grip consisting of complemontalsections supported and carried by the separable sections of the clamp,screw means for lifting the sections of the clamp and means operable onthe lifting of the clamp sections to force said sections apart.

10. In well drilling apparatus, a sectional grip for, imparting therotation of the table to the drill pipe and a clamp for securing thegrip in holding engagemept vith the drill pipe, said clamp comprismgcomplemcntar clamp bars overstanding the sections 0 the grip andconnected with the grip sections for supporting the same, said clampbars having reversely offset overlapping end portions with reverselyextending open slots Ill) therein and screw bolts positioned in linewith the registering open slots.

11. In well drilling apparatus, a drill pipe driving grip for impartingthe rotation of the rotary table to the drill pipe, said grip comprisingseparable sections of segmental form, a sectional clamp consisting ofseparable clamp bars supportingly connected with the respective sectionsof the grip, said clamp bars being independently engageable about andremovable from opposite sides of the drill pipe and having interlockingoverlapping portions at their ends and means operative on theoverlapping endportions of said clamp bars to secure the grip sectionsin driving engagement with the drill pipe.

12. In well drilling apparatus, complementary clamp bars for engagementabout the drill pipe, said clamp bars having overlapping end portions,drill pipe grips dependent from said bars and screw means operative onsaid overlapping portions of said clamp bars to secure the grips inrotary driving engagement with the drill pipe.

13. In Well drilling apparatus, complementary clamp bars for engagementabout the drill pipe, drill pipe grips dependent from said bars andscrew means operative on said clamp bars to secure the grips in rotarydriving engagement with the drill pipe, said screw means havingconnection with the clamp bars for effecting the release of the gripsfrom the drill pipe upon reverse action of the same and means forautomatically wedging the clamp bars apart in such reverse action of thescrew means.

14. In well drilling apparatus, a sectional clamp having overlapping endportions, a sectional pipe driving grip carried by and actuated by saidclamp and screw means engaging both above and below the overlappingportions of the clamp sectionsfor shlfting the sectional clamp inopposite directions for forcing the grip into holding engagement withthe drill pipe and for releasing the same from holding engagementtherewith.

15; In well drilling apparatus, a sectional clamp, a sectional pipedriving grip carried by and actuated by said clamp, screw means forshifting the sectional clamp 1n opposite directions for forcing the gripinto holding engagement with the drill ipe and for re leasing the samefrom holc ing engagement therewith and means for automaticallyseparating the grip sections in the course of such releasing movement ofthe clamp.

16. In well drilling apparatus, comple mentary clamp bars, a drill piperotating grip actuated thereby and relatively station ary wedge meansfor forcing the clamp bars apart in the adjustment of the same in onedirection.

17. In well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table andtapered socket partaking of the rotary movement of the table, of asectional clamp over-standing said socket and comprising separable clampplates independently engageable about the sides of the drill pipeextending down through the table, drill pipe gripping segments dependentfrom the sections of said overstanding clamp, said clamp sections havinga bearing on the heads of said segments and means for forcing thesections of the clamps downwardly with respect to the table to therebyforce the pipe gripping segments downwardly in the socket and intogripping engagement with the drill pipe, the tapered socket for the pipegripping segments being carried by a sleeve which is slidingly keyed inthe table so that it may be raised and lowered therein and the pipegripping segments having elongated gripping face to hold the pipe in thelifting and loweringaction of said sleeve as well as in the rotarymovement of the table.

18. In well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table anda tapered socket partaking of the rotary movement of the table, of atwo-part clamp over-standing said socket and comprising complementaryflat clamp plates recessed in their opposing edges to freely receivebetween them a drill pipe extending down through the socket and aplurality of drill pipe gripping segments loosely dependent from each ofthe clamp plates with freedom of motion in all directions sufficient topermit each to adjust itself individually into gripping engagement withthe pipe.

19. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a tapered socketpartaking of the rotary movement of the table, a gri for to tating thedrill pipe sealed in said socket and having a gripping surface forengagement with the pipe and adapted to. impart the rotation'ot thetable. to the drill pipe. an over-standing clamp for forcing the gripdown in the socket, said clamp being connected with the grip forcll'ccling a lifting oi the grip upon relative vertical movement of theclamp and socket, means for effecting relative vertical movement of theclamp and socket to free the grip from holding engagement with the drillpipe and means for automatically opening the grip in the course of suchrelative movement.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set I

